Builder&#39;s platform



June 30, 194-2. w J HlLL ET AL 2,288,355

BUILDERS PLATFORM Filed Feb. 16, 1940 5 Sheets-$heet l 1 June 30, 1942. w. J. HILL ET AL BUILDER'S PLATFORM Filed Feb. 16, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 30, 1942. w. J. HILL ETAL 2,288,355

BUILDER'S PLATFORM Filed Feb. 16, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet Patented June 30, 1942 BUILDER/S PLATFORM William J. Hill and William G. Furry, Houston, Tex.

Application February 16, 1940, Serial No. 319,328

(Cl. 3li4-2) Claims.

This invention relates to a builders platform and has particular relation to that type of platform designed to support the building material used in erecting the structure, as well as to support the workmen.

It is an object of the invention to provide a platform of the character described that will readily accommodate itself to an uneven supporting surface.

It is another object of the invention to provide a platform of the character described that may be readily erected in tiers so as to gradually increase the height of the platform as the work progresses.

It is a further object of the invention to provide, in a builders platform, means for so bracthat it may be readily constructed of any desired length.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a builders platform, means for so bracing the end sections of the supporting framework that the platform structure will be braced and made firm and secure throughout its length.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, arrangement of parts and use, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompany ing drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation showing the 30 platform supporting structure in two tiers.

Figure 2 shows a sectional view, illustrating a single tier platform, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a side elevation of the platform structure as supported on an uneven supporting surface.

Figure 4 shows a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows a horizontal, sectional view 40 numerals I, l designate the side legs of, a truss structure employed which are connected by the upper and lower cross-timbers 2, 3 and which are braced by the anchor braces 4, 4 secured at their outer ends to the corresponding legs I and at their upper inner ends to the inner side of the corresponding cross-timber 2 as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4 thus forming truss structures. These truss structures are similar throughout and are interchangeable. These trusses are spaced apart throughout the length of the platform and when arranged in spaced relation as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The cross-bars 2 form supports for the flooring 5 forming the platform proper.

Fastened to the upper end of each leg I there is a retainer 6 which is shown in detail in Figure 9. This retainer is channel-shaped as shown. Its side flanges embrace the upper end of the leg and may be bolted thereto and it extends above the leg to which it is fastened so as to receive the lower end of the leg of the second tier of the platform framework as illustrated in Figures 1 and 9. Accordingly, When the supporting framework is erected in tiers the legs of a tier above will be supported on the corresponding legs of the tier beneath and the retainers will retain said legs in exact vertical alignment.

The trusses, which are illustrated in Figures 2 and 4 are secured together by the longitudinal side rails l, 1. As clearly illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 the ends of these rails abut the legs I to which they are attached. Secured to the ends of said side rails, preferably by bolts, there are the lock plates 8, 8 having the downwardly diverging slots 9, 9 to receive the outwardly projecting ends of the screws II! which are screwed into the corresponding legs. These screws have the enlarged heads II and the lower ends of the slots 9 are enlarged so as to receive said heads. In erection the heads H are passed through the enlarged lower ends of the corresponding lower slots 9 and as the corresponding rail 1 is then forced downwardly the outer edges of the downwardly diverging slots 9 will bear against the corresponding screws I 0 so as to draw the legs I in close abutting relation with the opposing ends of the rail 1 thus providing a very strong structure throughout.

It will be noted from an inspection of Figure 7 that the intermediate legs I of thev supporting structure of the platform are abutted on opposite sides by the corresponding aligning rails 1, I in which event the slotted ends of the lock plates 8 carried, by said abutting ends overlap. This is also illustrated in Figure 6.

The screws W are screwed into the inner sides of the legs I as is more clearly indicated in Figures 2, 4 and 5. If the legs are supported on a substantially level supporting surface the ends of the side rails are brought into abutting relation with the adjacent legs I as shown in Figure 7 and said side rails are therefore brought into approximately direct alignment but if the supporting ground surface is irregular as is indicated in Figure 3, some of the side rails as for example, la, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 5, will be inclined, or diagonal, with respect to the horizontal and consequently should be reversed in their positions so that they will be inside of the corresponding legs I to the end that their ends will not abut said legs I. Their plates, however, overlap the plates 8 of the adjacent side rails and are pivotally mounted on the corresponding screws II]. This arrangement permits the supporting structure of the platform to follow the contour of the ground on which said structure is supported. In other words, it renders the supporting structure flexible.

When a second tier of trusses are mounted on the first tier, as the elevation of the work progresses, the flooring 5, as shown in Figure 4, may be removed from the lower tier and supported on the upper tier as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.

In order to hold the trusses plumb suitable cross-bars I2, l2 have been provided. These crossbars extend diagonally in opposite directions, as shown in Figure 3 and their ends are beveled each way providing the end faces lZa, 52a, one of said faces at each end of each cross-bar abutting firmly against the inner sides of the adjacent legs. This is clearly illustrated in Figures 6 and 10. Each cross-bar is provided at one end with a strap l3 rigidly connected thereto whose free end is overturned to engage over the adjacent leg I and provided with retracted tangs as l3a to penetrate into the adjacent leg. The other end of said cross-bar has a strap l i adjustably connected thereto whose free end is overturned to engage around the adjacent leg and is provided with return bend tangs Ma, Me to pene trate into the adjacent leg whereby said crossbars are securely connected to said legs.

It will usually be necessary to provide the. cross-bars only at the ends of the supporting r structure as is illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 to thus give rigidity to said structure throughout.

The drawings and description are illustrative merely, while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What We claim is: 1. A builders platform comprising spaced unitary trusses having side legs provided with projecting pins, side rails having end retainer plates for connecting the side legs of the trusses, and 1 retainers secured to the ends of the cross-bars and embracing the adjacent legs and having re turn bend tangs disposed in substantially parallel relation with the respective cross-bars adapted to penetrate into the material of the legs,

one of the retainers of each cross-bar being ad- J'ustable.

3. A construction of the character described comprising spaced unitary trusses, side rails connecting the trusses, the ends of the side rails abutting against the corresponding trusses, plates secured to the ends of said rails and overlapping the trusses and provided with obliquely disposed slots, pins projecting from the trusses into the slots and having enlarged heads and boards forming a supporting surface on the trusses.

4. A construction of the character described comprising spaced trusses, side rails arranged in alignment connecting the trusses, the side rails on opposite sides of a truss abutting against said truss and having overlapping lock plates provided with diverging slots, said abutted truss having a projecting pin extending through the slots of the overlapping plates.

5. A construction of the character described comprising a plurality of spaced trusses having side legs, side rails arranged in approximate alignment and connecting the trusses, lock plates on the ends of the side rails overlapping the legs of the corresponding trusses and having downwardly diverging slots, pins projecting from the legs through said slots, the ends of the side rails on one side of some of the trusses abutting the adjacent legs and the side rails on the other side of said truss being spaced inwardly out of longitudinal alignment with said legs and a supporting surface located on the trusses.

6. In a construction of the character described a lower tier of spaced unitary trusses having side legs, side rails connecting said trusses, U-shaped retainers on the upper ends of said legs, an upper tier of spaced unitary trusses having side legs whose lower ends are in the retainers, means to secure said retainers on one set only of said side legs whereby the upper and lower tiers are secured against relative horizontal movement, side rails connecting the trusses of said upper tier and a supporting surface on said upper trusses.

7. A construction of the character described comprising a series of inter-connected units each having a pair of transversely disposed trusses joined together by means of side rails having securing plates on one side thereof at their opposite end portions and to abut said trusses to clampingly secure the parts in substantially right-angled relation to engage pins carried by said trusses, said side rails being reversable whereby they will not abut the truss so that the side rails of adjacent units may be disposed in relatively oblique relation.

8. A builders platform comprising spaced unitary trusses having side legs which are fixed in substantially parallel relation with each other, detachable side rails connecting adjacent trusses, a diagonally disposed crossbar on each side of said platform connecting the corresponding side legs of adjacent trusses, and means for detachably securing the crossbar in abutting relation between the corresponding side legs of adjacent trusses.

9. A builders platform comprising spaced unitary trusses having side legs which are fixed substantially in relative parallel relation, side rails detachably secured to said trusses to secure them together, a crossbar having V-shaped end portions joining together the corresponding side legs of the trusses at each side of the platform, means for detachably connecting the crossbars in abutting relation between the corresponding legs of successive trusses, and boards on the trusses forming a supporting surface.

10. A builders platform comprising spaced unitary trusses having side legs, side rails detachably secured to the trusses to join them together, a crossbar at each side of said platform for connecting together corresponding side legs of adjacent trusses, a retainer rigidly secured to one of the end portions of said crossbars and embracing adjacent legs and having unitary return bend tangs to penetrate into the material of the legs in a direction substantially parallel with the respective crossbars, and a retainer slidably and pivotally connected to the other end portion of said crossbar to engage the adjacent side leg, and having return bent tines to penetrate said leg.

WILLIAM J. HILL. WILLIAM C. FURRY. 

